Boat



Jan. 15, 1946. c. H. CLEMENT, JR"

BOAT

Filed Feb. 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, 1946. c. H. CLEMENT, JR

BOAT

Filed Feb. 26', 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Car/ H. C/menf,

E w? R $3 mm m m .6M

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 BOAT.

Carl H; Clement; Jr., United States Army, FortiBelvoir. Va;-

Application .Eebruary '26, 1943,, Se1'ial No..477,229,

12 Claims.

(Granted. under the act oil-March: 3, 1883;,as amended April.3,0, 1928;. 370 0.- G. 757

The invention described'herein may. be manufactured and used by or for the (J-iovernmentfor governmental purposes, without paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a boat construction and more particularly to asmall boat construction ofthe open type which is adapted 'to be windor: power driven and which has a widebow and abottom of shallow curvature.

The present invention is particularly: adapted for usage in transporting: persons or'equipment onto a beach or other gradualshore where, owing: to its bow shape quickly unloaded. Such usage occurs frequently in military. operations where landing on'a hostile shore has to be accomplished; To this-end, I have designed my boat. to have a bottom constructionwhich will carry theload required-for such an operation and which will withstand stresses tending to distort it in either the fore and aftdirection orin the transverse direction, while the hull is designed to permit fairly rapid travel to the objective andto permit rapid unloading: of the boat when the objective is reached. Protection from.

waves,etc., is alTo-rded bythe sides of the boat whichconverge fairly sharply at the; fore section.

togformapointed-bow.

Although landing barges,- etc, are wellknown for; military. usage they. do not have the lightness:

and. speed necessary for, certain: types of opera?- tions particularlywhere a speedycraft isnecessary and the: total number ofmenrequired isnot great. Forsuch'use it isdesirable. to havesaboatt which has certain ofithe. advantageseofaa barge boat and certain of: the advantages ofsazspeed, boat. I obtain theseadvantages in a singleboat. by the name. storm boat,-by; boat forstrength: and rigidity and by fitting the. hullthereto so that which I designate designing the framework of the the boat maybe driven through the-water at an appreciable rate ofspeed. The boat: framework is formed of longitudinal members interlocked form a framework with transverse members to having a reticulated baseportion which; viewed. alone from above or below, tangular from the stern to a transverse plane-inthe fore section of the boat;

side of the whole framework curvature isslight; and'the frameworkhas-a horizontalsurface adapted .to receive a floor memberwork included, between. it

in particular, the boat can be is substantially rec-- The bow frame-- work is constructed to allow the-hull to converge and form a pointed, but wide bow. The-under is curved. but the sulting from wave action or fromany propelling means such as sail'sormechanical power.

Lightweight materials are used throughoutfithe boat'and the hull is preferably formed'of' integral side; stern and bottom members. The-transverse members of the framework have-rib members ex-. tending upwardly atthe sides 'of-the boat tosupport the sides; andreinforcing'battens areused throughout. Since the front-portionof the hull is curved to a pointed-bow; water resistance, tending; to cut down on speed, is decreased.

Accordingly, itis an object of the present in vention to provide'a-lightweight but strong-wlde bow boat.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a boat having a framework aifording'resistance to torsional strain and'a hull construction permitting rapid travel through-the water:

Another object of the present inventionisto' provide'a storm boat'made of lightweight" ma terials, the: framework of which forms, together with-theboat bottom and-theiloor on the inside; of the boat, substantially a box beam' bottom construction which resists deformation; and the hull of which permits'rapid travelthrough theiwat'er;

Another object of: the present invention is to' provide an open type storm boat: having inter locked longitudinal and transverse members .which form a framework having: a reticulated base por-: tion; a. hull formed of integral side, stern: and bottom members and aminner-floor member, said" members .being assembled to:form asubstantially rigid. structure havinga wide; pointed bow.

Theseand other objects otthe" present invention will become apparent from .the: followingdes tailed. description taken. in conjunction 1 with the: accompanying drawings and the invention will be;. pointed outwith particularity in theappended claims:

Fig. 1.is' aperspective-viewzrof the boat showing. theinterior-thereof;

F 2 is a:view-of the boat framework; inverted;v

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing the construction of the joint connecting a frame member with the center stringer and the joint connecting this same frame memher to the next adjacent stringer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, broken away, showing the chine construction;

Fig. 6 shows a modification of. the construction disclosed in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatical sketch of the aft port section showing the layout of the diagonal, stiffener battens and their position relative to the stringers and frames.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the assembled boat. The hull portions shown include side members Hi, the stern "plate or transom II with a cutaway portion 420,, and a portion of the bottom I2. The stern transom has attached thereto a support or mount I la for mountingan outboard motor, if this is desired. The lower interior of the boat is provided with a floor l3. A narrow deck |4 extends around theupper edge of the boat and attached adjacent thereto is a hand rail |5.,- The sides, stern and bottom members comprise the boat shell since they are made of substantially thin integral members.

The framework proper is shown more completely in Fig. 2 but certain portions thereof appear in Fig. 1. These include the square frame members l6, fsquare meaning at right angles to the keelson, and the ribs Ifia which form an integral part of the frames l5. Although the frames |B are only partially shown in this figure, they are continuous, extending from gunwale to gunwale. Frames |6 are notched at l8 to receive the continuous longitudinal battens ll, only one of which is shown in this figure. The bottom l2 and the sides H) meet at chine i9 from which the ribs |Ba extend to the gunwale as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The joints between the ribs I61; and the sides H! are reinforced by angular battens 29- which are glued in position and which may or may not be attached by screws. Most of the details described above are shown more clearly in, Fig. 3; 7

7 Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown the assembled framework or skeleton with the sides, bottom and "stern shell members removed. As shown, the framework comprises essentially square frame members IE, of which the ribs Ita are an integral part, continuous longitudinal stringers 2| and 22, chines l9, gunwales 23, and a prow member 24. Stringer 2| is thecenter stringer and has attached to the bottom side thereof, a keelson 25. Stringers 22 are the intermediate stringers and are adjacent to the center stringer 2|. Between the intermediate stringers 22 and the chines It, the continuous longitudinal battens I? are located. Except for those portions of the stringers 2| and 22 included between the two rearmost frames it, the stringers are lightened by hollowed out portions 26 in stringer 2| and hollowed out portions 21 in stringers 22. These hollowed out portions 26 and 27, which might better. be described as openings in the, stringers, extend sub- 'stantially from frame to frame except, as mentioned above, in the aft portion of the boat. Similarly, the frames l6 are lightened by hollowed out portions or openings 28 therein, such an opening being shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The portion of the framework just described, i. e., the frames and stringers, with the openings therein, when assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 2, produces the impression of a grill or network which 1 describe as a reticulated structure. Henceforth, when I refer to the reticulated portion of the boat framework, I intend to describe that portion formed by the square frames 55 which are interlocked with the stringers 2| and 22 to produce the network appearing structure shown in Fig. 2. This reticulated structure, as viewed from either above or below, produces a rectangular appearance since it extends from the stern to the fore portion of the boat, that is, to the second frame Hi from the prow 24, and is .bounded by chines H! which are substantially parallel up to this plane.

In addition to the mainelements described above, Fig. 2 shows additional members which go to complete the framework. Thus, the center stringer 2| has formed thereon an extension 29 which is shaped to receive and support the prow or stem post 24. Prow 24 is, in turn, notched at 3|jto receive the keelson 25 thus forming a smooth continuous member extending from the tip of the prow 24 to the stern. The frontmost frame I6 is reinforced by a solid curved member 3| which extends from chine to chine and which is attached to the member 29. This construction is further reinforced by a block 32 which is located at the joint between the extension 29 on stringer -2| and the frontmost frame it. The intermediate stringers 22 have extensions 35 which extend from the end of the stringer to the joint between the frontmost frame it and chine I9. Extension members 35 are curved to conform to the taper of the hull. The bow framework construction just described is thus reinforced to withstand impact shocks and is shaped so that the bow of the hull may form a pointed structure. By the bow framework construction just described, the transition from the box-like framework which extends substantially from the stern to the bow to the pointed bow structure, is accomplished; I

In the stern framework construction shown in Fig. 2, the numeral 36 indicates the solid portion of the center stringer 2| and the numerals 31 indicate the solid portion of the stringers 22. Solid portions 35 and 3'! are provided with notched ends 38 which extend into the opening 28 in the rearmost frame Reinforcing blocks 39 areattached to solid portions 36 and 3'! and to the rearmost frame l6. Blocks 39 are glued into position and further held by screws 4|! if so desired. The provision of solid portions 36 and 31 strengthens the stern and allows greater loading, a motor for example, at this point.

The cross-sectional detail of the boat, with fastening screws'omitted, is shown in Fig. 3. As shown there, the boat, in section, is substantially channel shaped since the sides H are substantially vertical and the bottom |2 is of slight curvature from the horizontal. Similarly, the square frame memberslfi and the integral rib portions Hia thereof are substantiallychannel shaped also. The curved portion of frame it follows the curvature of the bottom l2 since the latter is at tached to the frame, and the inner floor |3 is attached to the horizontal portion of the frame. This construction, together with the stringers 2| and 22, forms the box beam structure referred to previously. Stern transom is shown with cutaway portion 42a and bolts #3 hold motor mount Na in position.

The reinforcing elements for the frames and stringers are also shown in Fig, 3. Thus, angular cornerbattens 44 are located at: the joints between the bottom l2 and the frames Hi and stringers 2| and 22. At the intersection between the stringers and frames'corn'er battens 45 are located. This intersection detail is shown more clearly in Fig. 4. Longitudinal battens ts help support the floor I3.

The intersection detail of the joints between the frames and stringers, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is shown more clearly in Fig. '4. As shown there, the stringers 2i and 22 are notched at 4-1 to receive the frame member l6. Notches 4! are deep enough to allow the portions of frame It),

' which are received therein, to be flush with the edge surface of the stringers 2'! and 22, as'is shown in Fig. 4. In each corner of the joint'thus formed, angular reinforcing battens 45 are placed which are glued and, if desired, screwed firmly into position. In the embodiment of my invention shown, these angular corner battens 45 are formed of wood although metal angle pieces could be used, if avail-able, aluminum being a preferred metal for this purpose. The frame It is provided with a notch 48 which receives the keel son 25, not shown.

In the intersection detail just described, the provision of notches Lil in the longitudinal stringers to receive the square frames 16 permits rapid assembly of the framework since each of the frames is open in the center. The stringers can be turned sideways and slipped through the openings in the frames until they are in position, whereupon they can be righted and the frames secured into the notches "in the stringer. The angular corner battens are then placed in position and fastened. While I use continuous stringers in the preferred embodiment of my invention, individual stringer sections could be utilized, such sections being joined to the frames by means of the angular corner battens shown in Fig. 4. The intersection detail also discloses the frame and stringer construction as being of plywood which may be either 3 or 5 ply, the latter being preferred. The reinforcing corner battens can be made of white oak or, if available, met-a1 angle irons can be used.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the details of the chine construction are shown. In Fig, 5, which is the preferred construction, the side member and bottom 12 meet at chine Ill. The bottom 12 is continuous from chine to chine, but it can be formed in two sections each extending from keelson to chine. As shown in Fig. 5, the bottom l2 and the side it are attached to chine 19 by screws 49. The bottom I2 is also attached to longitudinal batten IT by screw members 49. At the joint between the bottom !2 and the side member I0, a strong water insoluble glue is used in addition to the fastening screws 49. In fact, all joints on the planking are screw fastened and glued.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 differs from that shown in Fig. in that a bottom chine is formed at batten ll in addition to the chine l9. As indicated there, the bottom member I2 is continuous from batten IT on one side of the center stringer 21 to batten member I! on the other side of center stringer 21, but, if desired, it can be formed in two sections each meeting at center stringer 2i. Betweenthe batten H and chine IS an additional bottom member 50 is provided. Bottom members 12 and 58 and side members ill are attached to the framework by means of fastening screws 49 and are additionally held in oak pieces.

place bystrong glue. The construction shown in Fig. 6 can be used where the curvature of the bottom 12 is less than that shown in Fig. 3 and it is desiredto avoid a sharp bend at batten I! to 3 bring the bottom into meeting engagement with the-side members [0.

The diagrammatical layout shown in Fig. 7 discloses diagonal stiffener battens 5| which reinforce those portions of the bottom 12 included between the stringers and frames. Although these diagonal battens are not absolutely necessary, they contribute materially to the strength of the bottom member. Diagonal battens 51 are glued into position and may be additionally held by fastening screwsynot shown.

In the construction described above, the various elements of the boat are made of wood, and I prefer to use plywood for the main elements because of the lightness and strength. of this material and its adaptability to deformation for forming the hull or boat shell which covers the 'frame work. The frames and stringers are preferably formed of 5 plywood and the hull of 3 plywood although this construction can be departed from if desirable. Although the stringers are continuous members in the preferred embodiment of my invention, they may be sectional members. The wooden blocks and corner batten members used in the boat are preferably formed of white In one construction of my boat I have employed a white oak chine 19, an x 1% white oak batten I I, white oak corner battens M, an '2: 2" white oakkeelson 25 and 1%" white oak angles 45 at the intersection of the frames and stringers. These dimensions are merely illustrative and are intended in no way to limit the scope of my invention. In the assembly of the various elements of the'boat, all joints are glued with a suitable s'hipbuilders glue and all joints on the planking are screw fastened.

The interlocked stringer and frame construction described above, having on one side the'b'oat bottom and on the other side the floor of "the boat, gives the boat its rigidity and resistance to deformation. These elements, in conjunction, form essentially a box beam reinforced throughout and, in doing so, not only strengthen the boat i but provide a convenient mount for either an outboard or inboard engine or even for the mast used to support a sail. The provision of such a base for the floor member also enables the boat to carry an appreciable load.

It will thus be seen that I have invented 1a wide-bow open boat which I refer to as a storm boat and which combines the desirable features of strength and speed, enabling it to reach an objective swiftly while-carrying its load. The base portion of the boat is essentially rectangular in shape but is provided with a pointed bow to reduce water resistance. The rectangular portion of the boat gives rigidity, and the pointed portion aids in securing speed. The boat is easy to construct since it is made of lightweight materials, easily worked into shape and the provision of single pieces of plywood for the sides and bottom enable one to rapidly construct the hull by simply bending the plywood members into position and securing them. The boat is made mainly of wood and the only metal required is for fastening screws or, where desired, angle iron pieces for reinforcing joints.

While I have described and illustrated a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be restricted thereto and that I intend to cover all modifications and improvements thereon which fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what.I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A boat comprising a plurality of transversely arranged frames provided with longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, a plurality of longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with said frames to form a framework having a reticulated base portion, a boat bottom attached to the underside of the framework, a floor attached to the top side of the reticulated base portion of the framework, and boat shell side and stern members attached to the framework.

2. An open boat comprising a plurality of continuous gunwale to gunwale transversely arran ed frames provided with elongated openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, rib members integral with said frames, boat shell side and stern portions supported by said rib members, said shell sides converging to form a pointed bow, at plurality of continuous longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with said frames to form a reticulated structure, a boat shell bottom portion attached to and covering the underside of said reticulated structure, and a floor attached to the top side of said reticulated structure. I v

3..A wide bow open boat comprising a plurality of transversely arranged frames, said frames having substantially vertical rib portions formed integral therewith and a substantially horizontal base portion having an elongated opening therein substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, a plurality of longitudinal stringers interlocked, within said openings, within the base portion of the'frames to form a reticulated structure, a boat bottom attached to the underside of the reticulated structure, a floor attached to the top side of the reticulated structure and integral side and stern shell members attached to the frame ribs.

4. A wide bow open type boat comprising a plurality of substantially channel-shaped frames provided with longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, rib members formed integral with said frames ,andforming the sides of said channel, a plurality of longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with the base portions of said channel shaped frame members to form a reticulated structure, said reticulated structure extending from the stern to a plane adjacent the bow, integral side, stern, and bottom shell members, and a floor member supported by and attached to the top surface of the reticulated structure.

5. 'An open type boat comprising a'plurality of frames provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being in'alignment, continuous longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with said frames to form a substantially rigid framework, and a boat shell covering the exterior of said framework, said shell having integral side, members; an integral bottom member meeting said side members at a chine line, an integral stern member, and a floor member located in the lower portion of said boat and supported by the boat framework.

6. An open type boat comprising a framework formed of a plurality of frames provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, continuous longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with said frames to form a reticulated substantially rigid structure, a boat shell covering the exterior of said framework, said shell comprising integral side members extending from the gunwales to the chines, bottom members extending from the chines to bottom chines, a continuous bottom member extending between said bottom chines, an integral stern member, and a floor supported by and substantially covering the lower interior of said framework.

' 7. In a boat, a plurality of square frames provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, a plurality of longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and attached to said frames at their intersection therewith, a boat bottom and a boat floor, so arranged that the bottom portion of the boat approximates a box beam.

8. A boat bottom construction comprising a plurality of frame members provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frame members, the openings in the respective frame members being disposed in alignment, a plurality of longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with said frames at their intersection therewith, a shell bottom member covering the underside of said interlocked structure, and an inner floor supported by the top side of said interlocked structure.

9. In a'boat, a plurality of substantially channel shaped frames provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the. respective frames being disposed in alignment, a plurality of continuous longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings and interlocked with the bottom portions of said frames to form a reticulated structure, a shell bottom member covering the underside of said reticulated structure and being attached thereto, and an inner floor supported by, attached to and substantially covering the top portion of said reticulated structure.

10. In aboat, a plurality of transverse frames provided with elongated longitudinal openings substantially coextensive with the central portion of the frames, the openings in the respective frames being disposed in alignment, a plurality of longitudinal stringers projecting through said openings, a bottom and a floor secured along the opposite sides of said frames and stringers, so arranged to form a box beam structure, and sidewalls carried by said box beam structure defining aboat.

11. A boat of the character described comprising a bottom, sidemembers, a'transom and a floor united by an inner reticular framework, said framework including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, parallelly arranged, transverse frames,

. said frames comprising a lower horizontal portion' provided with a longitudinally extending opening, and adapted for the attachment of the bottomand-fioor, and upwardly extending frame portions for the attachment of the side members, and longitudinal stringers provided with correspondingly located notches on the upper and lower edges thereof, said stringers being adapted to be turned sideways and slipped through the openings in said transverse frames and turned upright therein for engagement of said notches by the upper and lower edges bordering the longitudinal opening, and reinforcing battens uniting the said frames and said stringers at their intersections to form a rigid reticular structure.

12. A boat of the character described comprising a bottom, side members, a transom and a floor, an inner reticular framework spaced inter ranged, transverse frames, said frames comprising a lower horizontal portion, provided with a longitudinally extending opening, and adapted for the attachment of the bottom and floor, and lateral upwardly extending frame portions for the attachment of the side members, and longitudinal stringers provided with correspondingly located notches on the upper and lower edges thereof, said stringers being adapted to be put through the openings in said transverse frames and turned upright therein for engagement of said notches by the upper and lower edges bordering the longitudinal opening, and reinforcing battens uniting the said frames and said stringers at their intermediate said bottom and said floor to form a box 5 sections to form a rigid reticular structure.

beam structure, said framework including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, parallelly ar- CARL H. CLEMENT, JR. 

